One.

One year ago today, I moved to Canberra. 

If you come to Canberra and speak to local Canberrans, they’ll tell you that “hey, I actually like Canberra”.

They’ll go on to tell you how much they enjoy the “open spaces”, the cleanliness, the lack of traffic, how Canberra is a lovely place to raise a family, and how it’s only a one hour flight from Melbourne and 3.5 hour drive from Sydney …

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you any of that, because I don't actually like Canberra. 

But here’s what I can tell you: 

In the past year, I’ve worked, studied, met new people, made new friends. I’ve started with French again. I danced salsa. I volunteered in a community I don’t know very well. I’ve cooked, baked, planted stuff in my garden. I’ve taken road trips, short trips, overseas trips. In short, I’ve generally gotten my shit together.

So no regrets: one year on, life is not ideal, but it’s pretty damn comfortable. 

This February, I’ll graduate from my ‘graduate program’ and get a nice ceremony in front of Old Parliament House. I’ll be (fingers crossed) admitted as a solicitor, and I’ll be settling down into a somewhat right job in a somewhat wrong city. 

But it’s okay. Because I’m excited about this new year. I’m excited because of new studies, new travels and new plans. I’m excited because 2013 will hopefully be my last in Canberra to cap off 2 fruitful years.

And who knows where life will take me next, and what anniversary I’ll be celebrating next year. 

So happy Canniversary, y'all. And may it be the lucky last! 

xx doots